Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998

At its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, the Bureau was informed of an interim plan submitted by the authorities of Oman which foresaw a new outer boundary, and provisional boundaries for five management zones, construction of an administrative headquarters, visitor and local service centres and other facilities, launching of pilot projects in a variety of fields including environmental tourism and possible allocation of financial and human resources for the development of the site as Oman's first national park. As requested by the Bureau, the authorities of Oman submitted a map showing the outer boundary of the Sanctuary and the provisional boundaries of the five management zones and a report on the status of the Arabian Oryx population in the Sanctuary. IUCN's review of the information contained in the map and the report is underway and is expected to be submitted to the twenty-second session of the Bureau.

Action Required

The Bureau, based on additional information that may be available at the time of the twenty-second session of the Bureau, may recommend appropriate actions to the consideration of the State Party and/or the Committee as well as the Centre and IUCN.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998

In 1997, the authorities of Oman submitted an interim zoning plan that foresaw a new outer boundary, and provisional boundaries for five management zones. In addition, they provided brief descriptions of their plans for implementing several projects and a report on the population status of the Arabian Oryx in the Sanctuary.

At its twenty-second session (June 1998), the Bureau agreed with IUCN position that it would be better to review the zoning plan and other associated proposals after the overall management plan and the boundaries for the site are finalised. Hence, the Bureau invited the State Party to inform the Centre about progress with regard to the finalisation of the management plan and submit the plan to IUCN and the Centre for review. The Centre informed the Bureau that no response from the authorities of Oman has been received.

The Bureau noted with concern that the boundaries of the site remained undefined since the inscription of the site in 1994. The Bureau requested the Oman authorities to expedite the finalisation of the management plan, including the boundaries of the site and its management zones. The Bureau invited the State Party to submit the finalised plan for review by IUCN and the Centre before 15 September 1999. The Bureau requested the Centre and IUCN to submit the findings of their review of the management plan to the twenty-third session of the Committee in 1999.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998

Adopted

Draft Decision

22 BUR V.B.27

Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)

The Bureau recalled that it was informed of an interim plan submitted by the authorities of Oman in 1997, which foresaw a new outer boundary, and provisional boundaries for five management zones, the construction of an administrative headquarters, visitor and local service centres and other facilities. Also foreseen was the launching of pilot projects in a variety of fields, including environmental tourism, and possible allocation of financial and human resources for the development of the site as Oman's first national park. As requested by the Bureau, the authorities of Oman submitted a draft map showing the outer boundary of the Sanctuary and the provisional boundaries of the five management zones and a report on the status of the Arabian Oryx population in the Sanctuary.

The Bureau noted IUCN’s comments that the management plan and map still exists only in a draft form and that IUCN will postpone its review of the plan until such time as the final version is available. The Bureau invited the State Party to inform the Centre about the finalisation of the management plan as early as possible and submit it to IUCN and the Centre for review.

22 COM VII.27

Reports on the State of Conservation of Natural Properties Noted by the Committee

VII.27 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV on the following properties:

Heard and McDonald Islands (Australia)

Shark Bay, Western Australia (Australia)

Wet Tropics of Queensland (Australia)

Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland)

Iguacu National Park (Brazil)

Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon)

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (Canada)

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Los Katios National Park (Colombia)

Morne Trois Pitons National Park (Dominica)

Nanda Devi National Park (India)

Whale Sanctuary of El Viscaino (Mexico)

Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal)

Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)

Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)

Huascaran National Park (Peru)

The Committee noted that the Bureau's decision reflected the suggestion to establish an informal contact group on mining and World Heritage and that the IUCN "Draft Policy on Mining and Protected Areas" will be circulated.

Kamchatka Volcanoes (Russian Federation)

Virgin Komi Forests (Russian Federation)

Skocjan Caves (Slovenia)

Thung Yai-Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (Thailand)

St. Kilda (United Kingdom)

Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Durmitor National Park (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)

The Committee noted the UN official name for the State Party: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).